Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-15
SHARP is SENTENCED.
THE OLD NAN LID INTO COURT TO HEAR
HIS DOOM PRONOUNCED.
HlS faithful Wife al Hand-Wsakness During
Nght-Scsnss In the Court ROom-Fuur Years
a Hard Labor and Heavy Rns-A
Stay Granted.

~" AOnf 4uig AH--OdCoo oulaI u slcpb
better last night than for some time pre-
vious, but it seemed to be the sleep of
utter exhaustion and he appeared to be
but little refreshed by it, when he rose
this morning at 8 o'clock. His wife sat by
his bedside through the night tanning him,
while he was asleep and giving him cooling
drinks while he was awake at intervals.
After he arose from bed she assisted him to
dress for his second trip to the Court of
Oyer and Terminer TO receive sentence.
He bore the same hstless, Indifferent, al
most dazed manner noticeable in him
since his conviction.
He appeared almost unconscious Of the
attention his
WIFE LAvISHED on HIM,
and scarcely exchanged q word with her
Sharp remained sitting in his reclining
chair, with his wife beside him, tanning
him, until the hour came at which he was
to start for the Court House. He had
been able to take but little nourishment,
and was very weak.
1t was ll:3O o'clock when the carriage
drove away from the Jail, and twenty
minutes later it stopped before the County
Court House. The party alighted and
passed through the lane made for them by
the police through the waiting crowd of
curious spectators, to the Sherifss Office,
and thence to the court room. Sharp was
so weak that in going from the carriage to
the Jail, and on leaving it on his way into
the Court House, and up the stairs TO the
court room, it was necessary for the officers
guarding him to
SUPPORT HIS TOTTERING FORM.
Judge Barrett whose illness yesterday
compelled postponement Of the sentence
of the convicted man, had recovered suf6-
GENTLY to-day to be present in court. He
arrived at the court house at almost the
same moment as the prisoner. The clock
was indicating almost the hour of noon
when Sharp was almost carried into the
court room. His suffering wife and SON
in-law were close behind him and deep
lines of WEAKNESS and sorrow Over-spread
their faces as they seated themselves, be-
side the convicted man and famed his
lyid face, without bring anything like a
semblanee of color back to it.
Mr.. Mitchell then stood up 10 make 4
last appeal for the defense, he said he did
not wish to delay the court but would ask
the Judge to
TEMPER JUSTICE WITH MERCY.
Judge Barrett then proceeded to deliver
the sentence. He said he had never per-
| formed so delicate task in his whole pro-
| fesSiOnal career.
THE Legislature does not allow US to 90
/ below the minimum penalty in such a
grave offense as the present is. F" continued
| Judge Barrett. IAN cannot be satisfied,
those who clamor for the prisoners receiv-
ing full penalty of the law, and those call
ing for T primaud, all things have to be
considered, and the Judgment ofthis Court
is that the prisoner be confined four years
ut hard labor and pay a tine of 5000"
An attempt at applause was made in one
corner of the court as the sentence was pro-
nounced, but it was suppressed quickly.
AS some spectators moved out of court,
Mr. Mitchell stood up to ask for delay in
the removal of Sharp 70 Sing Sing until he
had settled some affairs in this city. Judge
Barrett denied the motion, as there was nC
provision of law for such course of action,
and he did not think
1T WOULD BE DESERVED
by the prisoner if there was. At that
moment a faint cheer was heard outside as
] the sentence was announced by those who
left the court room. The audience then
began to melt away quickly. The sentence
had been pronounced at l:Oi o'clock, al
| / 10 nearly all the mere curiosity seekers
had left the court room.
| At lis there WAS another excitement o.
momentary duration as the prisoner was
/ led out of the court room, still followed
by his faithful wife and SOn-in-law anC
| grand son, he was half carried from the
court room by Mr.. Selems, his cochman
Warden Heating, Deputy Curran and I'm
der Sheriff Sexton, keeping close by his
side. He WAS taken 10 Sheriff Grants Of
| tice in the basement of the court house. II
was decided after Sharp had left the court
room that he was To be returned TO Ludlow
street Jail, ss it was for one night only,
the court conceded it would not be any
thing too great in the way Of concession
% allow him to stay in that place rather
than TO send him to the Tombs prison.
At the District Attorneys office II was
said that the conviction of Sharp made the
way clear To the conviction of the rest oi
the "boOdlers." No more trials will take
place till next fall. Judge Barrett said
in an interview that be had, during
the progress OF the Sharp trial
become so thoroughly convinced of the
rascaiity ofthe whole lot OF indicted bribe'
givers and bribe-takerS, that he could have
nothing more to do with them. As Il
Richmond aud Kerr, he said that they
were beyond a peradventure of a doubt
actually as guilty as Sharp.